Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend adds names to list of priests credibly accused

The Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend has added two names to the list of priests who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor.

The two priests who have been added to the list include Michael Paquet and Bruce A. Schutt.

Their names were added after further analysis by the Diocesan Review Board of additional information.

Paquet was named by his religious order, The Crosier Fathers, as someone who had been credibly accused.

The release also includes a correction to the allegations against Elden Miller. Officials corrected the number of allegations as well as the spelling of his name.

The additions of Paquet and Schutt are not the result of new allegations or accusations.

Michael Paquet, osc
Date of Ordination
:  May 28, 1978
Removal from Ecclesiastical Ministry:  November 18, 2002
Dismissed from Clerical State:  September 16, 2005
Number of Credible Allegations:  1
Places Served:

  • 1978-1979 – Crosier Assignments outside the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend
  • 1979-1985 – Ministry Center Retreat Director, Fort Wayne, Indiana
  • 1983-1985 – Spirit Alive TEC Youth Minister, Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Fort Wayne, Indiana
  • 1985-2002 – Crosier Assignments outside the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend

Bruce A. Schutt
Date of Ordination: 
May 29, 1965
Loss of Clerical State:
  May 9, 1975
Number of Credible Allegations:
  2
Places Served:

  • June 15, 1965 – St. Monica Parish, Mishawaka, Indiana
  • April 20, 1968 – St. John the Baptist Parish, Fort Wayne, Indiana
  • June 15, 1968 – St. Patrick Parish, Fort Wayne, Indiana
  • June 25, 1971 – Chaplain, Indiana Army National Guard
  • July 1, 1971 – Sacred Heart Parish, Fort Wayne, Indiana
  • October 2, 1972 – United States Army Training Center, Fort Eustis, Virginia
  • April 15, 1974 – December 31, 1974 – Ministry in Diocese of LaCrosse, Wisconsin

Elden Miller (corrected)
Date of Ordination:
  May 8, 1954
Retired: 
July 15, 2003
Removed from Public Ministry: 
December 18, 2006
Number of Credible Allegations:
  4
Deceased: 
July 26, 2008
Places Served: 

  • June 11, 1954 – St. Joseph Parish, Mishawaka, Indiana
  • July 1, 1971 – St. Joseph Parish, Roanoke, Indiana; St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish, Nix Settlement, Columbia City, Indiana
  • July 1, 1974 – St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Fort Wayne, Indiana
  • July 9, 1984 – Immaculate Conception Parish, Kendallville, Indiana
  • February 10, 1988 – Queen of Peace Parish, Mishawaka, Indiana
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